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Dentistry vocabulary · Dental Conditions

Abscess

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈæbses/nounCore term

In dentistry, abscess means: A collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection, usually at the tip of a root or in the gum next to a tooth. It often causes throbbing pain and swelling.

In Turkish: apse, abse

How it is used

Dentists separate a periapical abscess (from a dead pulp) and a periodontal abscess (from a gum pocket). An abscess is drained. Patients say 'I've got an abscess' or 'my face has swollen up'.

Example sentences

  1. There's an abscess at the root tip of the lower left first molar.

  2. We drained the abscess and will start root canal treatment next week.

Common collocations

  • dental abscess
  • periapical abscess
  • drain an abscess
  • gum abscess
  • toothachePain in or around a tooth. It can be caused by decay, a cracked tooth, infection or inflammation of the pulp, and may be sharp, throbbing or constant.
  • root canal treatmentTreatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, shapes and seals the root canals so that the tooth can be kept.
  • periodontal pocketAn abnormally deep space between the gum and the tooth root, caused by periodontitis. The healthy gap is about 1 to 3 mm deep; pockets are deeper.
  • pulpThe soft tissue in the center of a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. It fills the pulp chamber in the crown and the canals in the roots.

More terms: Dental Conditions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.